Not by sword or spear
I’m going to start posting my journaling on Sundays to my blog. Most of the time I use Journalr (and occasionally fall back to my paper journal), which is free, so if you think you’d like to try journaling online, sign up.
Today’s reading is from 1 Samuel 17.
45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
The above is David’s response to Goliath as they prepare to battle one on one. It’s verse 47 I find interesting. “All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves”.
David is standing toe to toe with an enemy that’s quite possibly, literally, twice his size. He has the entire Israelite army behind him, and the entire Philistine army sprawled ahead of him. The constant yells and screams of warriors ready to do battle, armor and weapons clanging, mayhem…
And yet, David knows that it’s not by sword or spear that God’s people are saved. It’s by the grace of God. It’s by his enduring love. It won’t be because David’s good with a sword or shield or sling. It won’t be because there are more (or fewer) Israelite warriors. It will be by God’s generous hand.
Lord, thank you for today’s humbling reminder. You are not made more famous by our doings. You are not made more famous by talent, or aggressiveness, or luck, or temperment, but by who you are, God. You are the Creator God of the universe. I seek your will, Father, and want to do only what you want me to do. Thank you God.
david, goliath, samuel, bible, life journaling, grace, philistines, shawnw
Jesus follower.
